Requirements & Courses

Thirty-six credits which must include:

1. Core Courses (28 cr): CHM-115, 223, 224, 230, 320, 331, and 332

2. Select Area of Concentration:

• Chemistry: eight credits from CHM-251, 300 or 400 level courses, BCM-321 or 422. At least four credits must be at or above the 300 level.
• American Chemical Society Certified Degree: CHM-313 and 314; BCM-321; and four credits chosen from CHM-399, 411, 499, or BCM-422.
• Pre-Medicine: BCM-321 and four credits from 300 or 400 level courses in Chemistry; The American Chemical Society Certified Degree is also available with the pre-medicine concentration.

3.  Successful completion of CHM-450

• Potential majors are advised to schedule MTH-121 and 122 and PHY-121 and 122 (or PHY-112 and 113) in the freshman and sophomore years so they may enroll in CHM-331 and 332 in the junior year.
• Completion of an independent research project normally culminating in a senior thesis is recommended. Students bound for graduate school should make careful course selections to support their particular area of emphasis; participation in research, completion of CHM-313, 314 and 411, MTH-210 and 211 should be considered.
• Experience with calculus based physics (PHY- 121 and 122) is preferred over PHY-112 and 113.
• Students bound for medical school should elect CHM-115 in the fall of the freshman year so that BCM-321 can be completed in advance of taking the MCAT at the end of the Junior year (CHM-115, 223, 224, 230 and BIO-121 are prerequisites to BCM-321).
• To be a competitive medical school applicant, the Chemistry Department strongly recommends students completing a Chemistry major also take genetics and physiology, in addition to considering upper level electives from Biology, Biochemistry or Integrated Physiology and Health Science.

Students may achieve honors in Chemistry by:

1. Earning a 3.5 GPA in all chemistry classes.
2. Performing at a superior level in departmental Senior Seminar.
3. Preparing and presenting a senior thesis of honors caliber. See the Department chair for details on how to fulfill the thesis requirements.

Twenty-four credits which must include: Eight credits numbered 300 or above (BCM-321 and 422 may also be applied toward this minor)

Completion of the requirements for the Chemistry major.

Twenty-four credits which must include:

1. CHM-115, 223, 224, 230 and BCM-321

2. Four credits from CHM-320, 331 or 332

Completion of CHM-115, 223, 224, 230, 313, 314, 320, 331, 332, 450, BCM-321 and four credits chosen from CHM-399, 411, 499, or BCM-422. Completion of a minimum of 400 hours of laboratory work must be included. Students must consult with the Chemistry chair in their junior year for approval of their program.